Much of the English speaking world claims to be bird lovers. Why is it then that the majority of the bird idioms are negative in nature? It doesn't take a BIRD BRAIN (or does it?) to figure out why. It's time that those misleading words and phrases to become DEAD AS A DODO.

Negative Bird Idioms

Hi all,

It didn't make the article, but did you know that the historical connotation of GIVING SOMEONE THE BIRD (hiss, hiss, hiss!) dating back to England in the 1600s is not nearly as crass, obscene or vulgar as that other similar sounding expression/action that is often confused with it.

Well....that was entertaining, Les. Thank you.

Poor chickens. I LOVE chickens.....

Thanks Debbie,

At least the title was serious.
I kind of winged it and the feathery language of the body was more tongue in beak.

Hi,

Do you know of anyone that thinks or acts like that they are the COCK OF THE WALK?

Now please do not go running off LIKE A CHICKEN WITH ITS HEAD CUT OFF or YOUR GOOSE WILL BE COOKED.

Les, I'll just tell you that if anybody uses a negative bird idiom near Cheep, they had better hope that she doesn't hear them. Cheep never forgets a slight, and she's a hard biter. Cheep demands respect, or she'll make you bleed.

Les, you are a silly goose.

Connie, Cheep is so right! Neither do any of my birds meeekly buy into all this negative verbiage that is thrown about by humans. Payno my half-moon conure during one of his frequent full self-submerging baths would more than just splash anyone who said that he or any other of his brethren were DIRTY BIRDS.

Oh, goodness.... I needed a good chuckle today, Les, and you sure gave me one. Thanks for this great thread.

Hi Debbie and all,

Depending on your perspective, the following poem is either for chicken lovers or chicken haters, but perhaps not for the chicken ambivalent. As for the chicken hearted, I am not so sure. Although, we all know which side of the coop Debbie is perched on.

LAST NIGHT I DREAMED OF CHICKENS
by Jack Prelutsky

Last night I dreamed of chickens,
there were chickens everywhere,
they were standing on my stomach,
they were nesting in my hair,
they were pecking at my pillow,
they were hopping on my head,
they were ruffling up their feathers
as they raced about my bed.

They were on the chairs and tables,
they were on the chandeliers,
they were roosting in the corners,
they were clucking in my ears,
there were chickens, chickens, chickens
for as far as I could see...
when I woke today, I noticed
there were eggs on top of me.

Hi all,

Talk about a mixed and confusing metaphor/idiom, that depending on its connotation maligns two large categories of animals with a mere two words. BIRD DOG. So, whether you apply one definition which is "to control closely with unceasing vigilance" or another, "to steal or attempt to steal another person's date," they are an affront to those sentient beings. I am kind of confused as to who is doing the BIRDING and who is doing the DOGGING.

However, from a bird's perspective, the worst connotation is for sure a literal one, "a dog used or trained to retrieve game birds after they have been shot."

Thanks for the chicken poem, Les. It's great.

I love fresh chicken eggs.....so much better than the commercially raised store bought.